Perjury is the criminal offense of making a false statement under oath—verbally or in writing—that the witness knows to be false and that is material to the proceeding in which the statement is made. And suborning perjury or subornation of perjury is the criminal offense of procuring the perjury of another person.

Perjury is a criminal offense under both state and federal laws and may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or as a felony offense, depending on the state or federal jurisdiction, and whether there are any aggravating factors that increase the seriousness of the crime. Perjury laws are located in state statutes—often in the penal or criminal code—and the federal perjury law is located in the United States Code at 18 U.S.C. §1621.

In Utah, perjury is defined as making a false statement under oath, knowing it to be false, and with the statement being material to the proceeding. This applies to both verbal and written statements. Perjury is considered a serious offense and is classified under Utah law as a third-degree felony, as outlined in Utah Code § 76-8-503. The penalties for a third-degree felony in Utah can include imprisonment for up to five years and a fine of up to $5,000. Subornation of perjury, which involves persuading or inducing another person to commit perjury, is also a criminal offense and is treated with similar severity. At the federal level, perjury is governed by 18 U.S.C. § 1621, and it carries potential penalties including fines and imprisonment. The exact punishment for perjury can vary depending on the circumstances of the case and the presence of any aggravating factors.